Baffle for domestic heating furnaces



Nov. ll, 1941. w. s. wYKEs ETAL BAFFLE FOR DOMESTIC HEATING FURNACES Filed March 30. 1940 4 Sheets-Shea?l l WIL n H Y .l... I l p. n0 Y f 6 l 11d L |.i+l l N N .,r, /h l/ v M M M Nov. l1, 1941. w. s. WYKES E'rAl;

BAFFLE FOR DOMESTIC HEATING FURNACES 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1940 Nv.'11,1941. 'WS WYKES ETAL l2,262,153

BAFFLE FOR DOMESTIC HEATING FURNACES Filed March 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3l Nov. 11, 1941. w. s. wYKEs r-:rAL

B-AFFLE FOR DOMESTIC HEATING FURNACES Filed March 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 1l, 1941 BAFFLE FOR DOMESTIC HEATING FURNACES William S. Wykes, Philadelphia, Pa., and Edward I. Jaffe, Collingswood, N. J.

Application March Si), 194i?, Serial No. 326,834

14.- Claims.

This invention relates to baffles for domestic heating furnaces and more particularly to an improved form of baffle construction which may be quickly and easily installed and which will be effective in its operation.

In many domestic heating furnaces, particularly those which are of old design and which have been in use for a number of years a streamlining elfect of the hot gases of combustion oc* curs within the furnace. There is very often insufficient turbulence within the furnace space and excessive velocityof travel of the gases to the stack. The hot gases of combustion do not have an adequate opportunity to give up their heat because of their rapid movement and also because of the relatively smaller heat transfer surface in the older domestic heating furnaces. A large quantity of heat is carried off in the combustion gases and passes into the stack and this heat is not utilized for the purpose of heating the iiuid, water or air, of the house heating system. This is particularly true Ain furnaces originally intended for burning coal, but which have been converted b-y the .installation of oil burning equipment or gas burning equipment.

It is the principal object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a baille unit which will increase the effectiveness of the furnace in which the same is installed and thereby reduce the amount of fuel required.

It is a further object of the present inventionto reduce the velocity of travel of the combustion gases in the interior of the furnace and increase the turbulence so that combustion is completed within the combustion space and more time is allowed for the absorption of heat by the heat absorbing surfaces of the furnace.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved form of bale which will absorb an appreciable quantity of heat While combustion is occurring and retain the same, and, after combustion has been discontinued, continue to give off heat for absorption by the furnace walls.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of baliie construction which, by the provision of a relatively small number of parts, will be suitable for use in the various sizes and shapes of re boxes which are found in domestic heating furnaces now in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baflie construction which may be readily installed in existing domestic heating furnaces without the necessity for dismantling the same` Other objects of the invention Will be apparent from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a domestic furnace, the interior of which is rectangular, and showing in plan one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the leg elements employed with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in elevation and in plan, respectively, of a cross bar employed with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 3, inclusive;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views in elevation and in plan respectively of a side or auxiliary cross bar employed with the form of the invention illus* trated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a preferred form of corner fin used with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of a preferred form of intermediate nn for use with the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 11 is a view taken approximately on the line II-II of Fig. 3 and illustrating certain of the details of construction of the n shown in Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is a central vertical sectional view taken through a domestic heating furnace, the interior of which is circular, and showing in vertical section, another embodiment of the balile construction of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the furnace shown in Fig. 12 and showing the baffle construction in a plan view;

Fig. 14 is a View in perspective and on a reduced scale of a crown piece employed with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 is an underneath plan View, on a reduced scale, of a cap-piece employed with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13; and

Fig. 16 is an underneath view of a iin employed with the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein contained are illustrative merelypand that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings, a preferred form of the baffle construction of the present invention is illustrated in connection with a domestic heating furnace 20 having a rectangular or substantially rectangular fire box 2i and which may be equipped with an oil burner 22. The furnace 20 may have side Walls containing water which is to be heated for use in the heating system, although it will of course be understood that the furnace 20 may be of the hot air heating type.

The baffle construction is preferably generally rectangularY in plan, as illustrated'particularly in Fig. 1. The parts of the baffle construction may be made of any desired material, but it is preferable to employ cast iron with suitable alloying materials added tov assist in withstanding high temperatures. A plurality of leg members 23 are provided for supporting the other portions of the bafe construction. The lower end of each leg member 23- isv preferably formed into a foot 2li which mayrest on an inwardly projecting portion 25 of the furnace 2l)- and may, if desired, rest upon a supporting plate or strip (not shown) suitably supported within the furnace 20. The

upper end of the leg member 23 is preferably forked, as illustrated in Fig. 4 so as to provide a horizontally disposed portion 26 and upwardlyv extending side portions, 21. A sufficient number ofleg members 23 are provided to furnishA the required support and in some instances fewer legs will be'needed than' are shown.V

A cross bar 23 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is also provided and preferably has a central horizontally disposed portion 29. The length of the portion 29 is determined by the longer dimen-l sion of the furnace in which the baffle construction is to be installed. A few sizes. of cross bars will suffice to accommodate the greater number ofl furnaces now in use. The horizontal portion 23 of the cross bar` 28 is slotted as at 33. TheV cross bar 28V preferably also has downwardly inclined side portions 3i each of which is, slotted as at 32 for purposes hereinafter, referred to. The cross bar 28 has downwardly extending eX- tremities 33 which are notched as at 3.4 for interlocking engagement with the forkedportions 26, 21 of the leg members 23.

A pluralityY of side or cross bars 33 as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 are also provided, the side bars 36 each having a hooked portion 3l at the upper end thereof. The end of the hook 31 is of a thickness not in excess of half of the width of the slot 3l) inthe cross bar 2B for engagement therein so that oppositely extending side bars 33 may be disposed in locked engagement in the slot 33. The length of the side bars 33 will. be varied as desired, but a relatively small number of sizes will be required for the majority of in.-

stallations.

Each sidebar 33 also has an inclined portion 38 with a slot 39 therein for a purpose hereinafter more fully referredto. The lower ends of the side bars 36 are notched as at 43 for interlocking engagement with the forked portionsyl, 21 of the leg members 23.

Fins are provided and are preferably shaped for directing the gases in a turbulent path. A'

corner fin as illustrated in Fig. 9 is provided and preferably has the upper side or face curved and flaring and the lower side or face thereof curved and flaring for directing the gas in a plurality cf streams against the inner side walls of the furnace 2li. The corner fins 35 are preferably composed oi' a plurality of iiutings l-G which spread fan-like from the inner corner and are curved toward the outer edge 4l. The outer edge portions 41 are also preferably curved (see Figs. 1 and 9). The fins l5 are also provided with two lugs i3 extending therefrom for holding the ns 45 in position. The lugs Il@ are preferably disposed in engagement respectively with a slot 32 in the cross bar 23 and a slot 39 in the side bar 36.

Intermediate fins 56 as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 are also provided and preferably have the surfaces thereof formed of a plurality of iiuted curved and aring faces 5i. The distance between the edges is determined by the space to be covered by the iins, although it will be clear that a plurality of intermediate fins may be used edge to edge with a longer cross bar 23 and additional bars 33. The iins 53 are preferably also provided with a plurality of lugs or projections 52 for holding the fins 5@ in position by interlocking engagement with the slots 39 in the side bars 33.

A cap piece 35 is also preferably provided consisting of a pair of tilted plates 53 with a downwardly extending projection '51. The lower part of the projection 51 is reduced in size to ft into the slot 33 of the cross bar 28 at the center thereof and support the cap piece 55.

The mode of installation and manner of use of the baffle construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, will now be pointed out. The bale construction is installed by rst placing the leg members 23 in position in the furnace 23 and then mounting a cross bar member 28 on one pair of leg members 23 with the lower end portions 33 of the cross bar member 28 in engagement with the forked upper end of the leg members 23. The side bar portions 33 are then inserted and the hooks 31 at the upper ends therelof engaged in the slot 3010i the cross bar 28. The notched portions 3B at the lower end of the side bar portions 33 are placed in engagement with the forked upper ends of the leg members.

The cross bar members 28 and the side bar portions 33 serve for connecting, in a rigid manner, the upper ends of the leg members 23 when in engagement therewith.

The corner fins 45 may then be inserted with the lugs 48 thereof in engagement respectively with a slot 39 in the side bar portion 33 and the slot 32 in the cross bar portion 23. The intermediate fin members 5l) may be inserted between the corner iin members 45 and with the lugs 52 thereof in engagement with the slots 39 of the side bar members 33. It will be noted that the slots 39 in the side bar members 36 each accommodate lugs of adjoining fins and provide for an additional interlocking of the ns and the bars. The cap member 55 is then inserted in place and the structure is ready for use.

The hot gases and products of combustion from the burner or grate which move upwardly in the furnace 23 may pass between the leg members 23 and in Contact with the adjacent side walls of the furnace. The gases which pass upwardly are directed by the lower faces of the fins 45 and 50 downwardly and outwardly into contact with the furnace walls. Any gases which pass upwardly through the baille are also directed by the cap member 55 outwardly for contact with the walls, the upper faces of the fins 45 and 50 also assisting in creating turbulence of the gases and contact thereof with the inside walls of the furnace 20. The fins 45 and 5D are preferably disposed so that the space between the outermost edges of the fins and the furnace wall is of the order of one to two inches.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, is intended for furnaces having a circular interior space 21a. A plurality of leg members 23 are provided for supporting the other portions of the baffle construction. The lower end of each leg member 23 is preferably formed into a foot 24 which may rest on a portion 25 of the furnace 2U or, if desired, rest upon a supporting plate or strip (not shown) suitably mounted within the furnace 20. The upper end of the leg member 23 is forked as at 26 and 21 for receiving other portions of the structure.

A crown is provided preferably consisting of two crown members 6l), the crown members 60 each consisting of a frusto-conical portion 6I provided with a plurality of sets of slots 62 at increasing distances from the centerY solid portions 63 being provided at the locations between the ends of the slots 62. At the lower and outer end of each solid portion 63 downward projections 64 are provided, the projections 64 being notched at the lower end thereof as at 65 for engagement with the forked ends of the leg members 23. The central portion of the crown members 60 has an upwardly projecting ring 66 for purposes hereinafter more fully referred to. The crown members 60 preferably also have flat faces for contact and the downwardly extending portions 64 adjacent these flat faces are preferably made of a thickness such that the two adjacent downwardly extending portions 54 of associated crown members 60 are located together in a single forked portion of a leg member 23 for locking engagement.

Fins 'l0 are provided for mounting in the crown members 60 and include flaring side portions 1I with curved and flaring surfaces therebetween on the upper and lower face of each n 1f). The fins may also have an upwardly projecting rim portion T2. Each iin 10 is also preferably provided at the narrow portion thereof with a hooked lug T3 so that the fin 'lll may be mounted in engagement in one of the slots 62 of the crown member 60.

A cap member 55a is also provided and preferably consists of a dished plate 14 preferably made in one piece and having a plurality of downwardly projecting portions for engagement with the upwardly extending ring 66 on the crown pieces 60 for holding the crown pieces 60 together at the upward part thereof.

The mode of installation and the manner of use of the baille `construction illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, will now be pointed out.

The baille device is installed by first placing the leg members 23 in the furnace 20 and then successively inserting the crown pieces 60 in position with the downwardly extending projections 64 in interlocking enga-gement with the forked upper ends of the leg members 23. The crown pieces 6l] serve for connecting, in a rigid manner, the upper ends of the leg members 23 when in engagement therewith. The fins 10 are then put in place with their projections 13 hooked into the slots 62 at the desired position with the outer edges thereof circumferentially disposed as illustrated at Fig. 13 so that the ensemble of the fins 10 provides a serrated edge for increasing the turbulence of ilow and the contact of the hot gases with the interior wall of the furnace 20. The cap piece 55a is then inserted in place and with the downward projections 'I5 thereof in engagement with the ring 66 on the crown piece 60.

The hot gases and products of combustion from the burner or grate will move upwardly in the furnace and may pass between the leg members 23 and in contact with the adjacent side walls of the furnace 20. The gases which pass upwardly are directed by the lower faces of the ns 'l0 downwardly and outwardly into contact with the furnace walls. The gases which pass upwardly through the baffle in the spaces are directed outwardly by the cap member 55a for contact with the walls.

In this form of baffle construction it is also preferable that the fins 'I0 in the assembled baflle be disposed so that the space between the outermost edges of the fins l0 and of the furnace wall is of the order of one to two inches.

It will be seen that with both forms of baille construction herein disclosed stream-lining of the gases to the outlet of the furnace chamber is effectively prevented. The baiile constructions also increase the turbulence of the gases within the furnace chamber, and are effective for bringing the gases into contact with the heat absorbing walls of the furnace. The baffle constructions herein disclosed may be readily assembled and will remain in position without the necessity for employing bolts, rivets or similar devices which are incapable of withstanding the high temperatures to which such baiiies are subjected. At the same time, also, the weight of the baffle is not excessive, while an adequate mass is provided for heat absorption and delivery of the heat to the furnace walls in the intervals which occur between active firing periods.

We claim:

1. In a baffle for insertion and assembly in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs having interlocking projections at the upper ends thereof, connecting members in interlocking engagement with the interlocking projections of at least two of said legs, and fins in interlocking engagement with a plurality of said connecting members, said fins being downwardly inclined and having upwardly flaring edge portions for directing furnace gases into intimate contact with the interior wall of the furnace space.

2. In a baille for insertion and assembly in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of spaced upwardly extending legs having interlocking portions at the upper ends thereof, connecting members having interlocking projections in engagement with said interlocking portions, and a plurality of contiguous ns each in interlocking engagement with a plurality of said members, said ns being downwardly inclined and having upwardly flaring edge portions for directing furnace gases into intimate contact with the walls of the furnace space.

3. In a baiiie for insertion and assembly in the space` within the interior of a heating' furnace,

the combination of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs having interlocking projections at the upper ends thereof, connecting.

connecting members having downwardly disposed portions in interlocking engagementl with the upper ends of said supports and said` upwardly disposedl interlockingi portions, and fins having the inner portions in interlocking engagement with said members, said fins being downwardly inclined and havingA upwardly flaring edge portions.

5. In a baffle for insertion-andassembly in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of spaced upwardly extending legs having upwardly disposed interlockingI portions at the upper ends thereof, connecting members in interlocking engagement with said'interlocking portions, and ns having the inner -portions in interlocking engagement with said members, said fins being downwardly inclined and having upwardly aring edge portions, said edge portions being shaped to provide serrations adjacent the interior wall of thefurnace.

6. In a baiile for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, thel combination of a plurality of spaced legs, a cross bar having the ends thereof in engagement with the upper ends of a pair of said legs, additional transversely disposed cross bars eachhaving one end portion in engagement with said first-mentioned cross bar and the other end portion in interlocking engagement with the upper end of one o'f said legs, and fins mounted above said bars and each in interlocking engagement with a pair of said bars.

7 In a baffle for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of spaced legs, a cross bar having the ends thereof in engagement with the upper ends of a pair of said legs, additional transversely disposed cross bars each having one end portion in engagement with said first-mentioned cross bar and theother end portion in interlocking engagement with the upper end of one of said legs, and fins mounted above said bars and each having a projection in interlocking engagement with at least one of said bars.

8. In a baffle for insertion in the space withinl the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of spaced legs, a cross bar having the ends thereof in engagement with the upper ends of a pair of said legs, additional transversely disposed cross bars each having one end portion in engagement with said first-mentioned cross bar and the other end portion in interlocking engagement with the upper end of one of said legs, fins mounted above said bars and each having a projection in interlocking engagement with at least one of said bars, and a cap member spaced above said fins and extending outwardly over the inner portions of said iins.

9. In a baffle for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combinationV of a plurality of supporting members, a

cross bar, said cross bar having'end` portions in interlocking engagement with said supporting members, additional transversely disposed cross bars in interlocking engagement with said firstitnentioned cross bar, said Vadditional cross bars having ends thereof in interlocking engagement with said supporting members, and fins mounted above and in interlocking engagement with said terlocking engagement'vvith said bars,.and a capV member carried by one ofy said bars, said cap member being spaced above said ns and extending outwardly over the inner portions of said fins.

ll. In a baffle for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combinationt of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs, a cross bar, said cross bar having a horizontal portion and end portions in interlocking engage-v ment with the upper ends ofI certain of said legs, additional'transversely disposed cross bars in in,- terlocking'engagement with the horizontalV portion of said first-mentioned cross bar, said additional cross bars having the ends thereof ininterlocking engagement with the upper ends of others of said legs, fins mounted above and in interlocking engagement with said bars, and a'cap member carried by one of said bars, said` cap memberbeing spaced above said nsand extending outwardly over the inner portions of said fins;

12. In a loaiile for insertion inthe space within the interior of a heating furnace,I the combination of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs,`

a crossbar, said cross bar having a Vhorizontal slotted portion and downwardly inclined end por-` tions in interlocking engagement with they upper ends of certain of said legs, additional transversely disposed downwardly inclined cross bars in interlocking engagement with the horizontal slotted portion of said cross bar, said additional cross bars having the lower ends thereof in interlocking* engagement with the upperV ends of others of said legs, fins mounted above and in interlocking engagement with said bars.

13. In a baffle for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs, a cross bar, said cross barfhaving a horizontal slotted portion and slotted downwardly. inclined end portionsin interlocking engagement with the upper ends of certain of said legs, additional transversely disposeddownwardly inclined slotted cross bars in interlocking engagement with the horizontal slotted portionof said ycross bar, said additional cross bars having the lower ends thereof in interlocking engagement with the upper ends of others of said legs, and fins mounted above said bars and having projections in interlocking engagement with the slots in said bars.

14. In a baffle for insertion in the space within the interior of a heating furnace, the combination of a plurality of spaced upwardly extending legs, a cross bar, said cross bar having a horizontal slotted portion and slotted downwardly inclined end portions in interlocking engagement with the upper ends of certain of said legs, addi- 26am S tional downwardly inclined slotted cross bars in interlocking engagement with the horizontal slotted portion of said cross bar, said additional cross bars having the lower ends thereof in interlocking engagement with the upper ends of others of said legs, fins mounted above said bars and having projections in interlocking engagement with the slots in said bars, and a cap member carried by one of said bars, said cap member being spaced above said :fins and extending outwardly over the inner portions of said fins.

WILLIAM S. VYKES. EDWARD I. JAFFE. 

